“RUDE AWAKENING"

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3718, 9 November 1926, Page 2

“RUDE AWAKENING"

AMERICAN SENTIMENT TOWARDS BRITAIN “ GROSS MISREPRESENTATION " “The sooner the British people realise the real attitude of America towards them the better. ’ I his opinion was expressed this week by Sir Joseph Carruthens, of Sydney, Leader of the Tipper House in the New South TV ales Parliament, who was a through passenger from San Francisco by the Makura, and who, in an interview with a ‘Dominion' reporter, spoke freely ot the misrepresentation he found in the United States with regard to Britain and the Empire. “ L have been on a live months’ tour in the Pacific and to California for health reasons.” said Sir Joseph Carruthers. “it was my third visit to the Hawaiian Islands, where .1 have now completed my investigations regarding Captain Cook’s visit to and death at Hawaii. I have been fortunate in obtaining new material which clears up several matters hitherto in doubt. The people of the territory of Hawaii are arranging to have a great celebration ou the loOth anniversary of the death of Captain Cook, and invitations will he sent to Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and the French Government to ho represented on the occasion. This event will mean the placing of Cook’s memory and reputation in its proper place in the American mind. “ i visited the mainland of the United States for the first time, hut I confined my visit to the important State of California. 1 received most hospitable treatment, especially from the city authorities and from the University of California, and i toured some thousands of miles through the fertile Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and also in the Los Angeles district. Whilst greatly impressed with the productivity of California, I am convinced that neither the land nor the climate there is equal to that of a great part of Eastern Australia. Once we get the population, Australia, will progress oven more than California. Land in the farming districts of that State sells at £OO to £BO per acre unimproved. Better land in the Murray Valley of New South Wales and Victoria can lie procured to-day at about £0 per acre unimproved. “ i. was disappointed in some respects in the land settlement of California. Many farmers there are doing badly, and must quit farming. Lucerne and oaten hay are selling at from £2 10s to £3 per ton, and that price cannot pay. Our farmers get a much better price. The fact is that motor cars have replaced horses in most parts of the United States, and there is less demand for hay feed except for dairy herds. In every case where I visited a ranch or farm in the fruit-raising districts, 1 was informed by the owners that they, had discarded the horse entirely. I feel sure that there are many American farmers who would gladly settle in Australia or New Zealand if they were given the chance and knew our country.

“ I gut a rude awakening as to the sentiment of the mass of Americans towards Great Britain and our Empire. Except from cultured men of the university groups, 1 never heard any expression of sympathy with Great Britain or the dominions. On the other hand, there was plenty of gross misrepresentation about the British Empire—the result of political propaganda from men like Senators Borah and Hiram Johnson, and by the Hearst Press. The big men of the Republican and .Democratic Parties are fairminded and friendly, but they are few and far between in the multitude of Americans. “ 1 am convinced that self-interest is the dominating influence governing Americans in the mass. They prefer to play the part of the Pharisee, and leave the Good Samaritan part for some other people. The sooner the British people realise the real attitude of America towards them the better.

“It jp, a great pity Hint Great Britain rushed in and made its debt settlement before there was a general conference on all tin* debts due between the Allies. As matters now stand Great Britain gets no credit for its action, and is treated as a trade rival, to be handicapped rather than helped in the slightest way. America is very prosperous to-day, hut its prosperity is

deadening it.s humanity towards those enduring adversity. “ A rude awakening will come .soonei or later, when il i.s realised that the world is interdependent in it.s parts, and that no nation can continue to he prosperous if its neighbors are on the verge of ruin, as is the ease to-day.